Emerald City Renewables, LLC

Landfill Gas to Energy Facility

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department originally issued a solid waste permit for BioFuels Washington, LLC Landfill Gas to Energy Facility located at LRI Landfill on Dec. 14, 2012. In Dec. 2015 the facility was sold to Emerald City Renewables, LLC (Emerald City). Due to coordination with the permit renewal, the Health Department chose to renew the permit and transfer ownership of the Solid Waste Handling Permit at the same time. The Health Department reviewed documents provided by Emerald City that showed the fitness and willingness of Emerald City to operate the facility according to the permit applications, plans of operation and existing permit and conditions. The permit renewed and transferred to Emerald City on Dec. 22, 2015.

The Emerald City facility uses landfill gas generated at the LRI Landfill to generate electricity and may in the future produce compressed natural gas (CNG). The renewable energy facility is located at the northern end of the LRI Landfill adjacent to the landfill gas flares. Landfill gas is piped to the facility where it is combusted in large Caterpillar engines. These engines power generators that create renewable energy (electricity). The electricity is sold to and fed into the regional Puget Sound Energy electrical grid. The facility is currently in full commercial operation and generates up to 4.5 megawatts of electricity.